How do I turn off 5G on my Android phone?
Open Settings and find your mobile network settings: Network & internet, then SIMs on Pixel and Motorola, or Connections, then Mobile networks on Samsung. Tap Preferred network type (Network mode on Samsung) and choose LTE or 4G. Your phone stops using 5G until you change it back. Some carriers hide this setting.
Steps to check
Open your mobile network settings
Open the Settings app and go to the section for your phone signal and mobile data.
- Samsung Settings → Connections → Mobile networks.
- Pixel Settings → Network & internet → SIMs. If you have more than one SIM, tap the one you want to change.
- Motorola Settings → Network & internet → SIMs & mobile network (Mobile networks on some models), then your SIM. If you see Advanced, tap it to show more options.
Tap the network type setting
Look for a setting that lists 5G, LTE, 3G, and 2G. Its name depends on the phone.
- Samsung Tap Network mode. Samsung notes the options vary by carrier.
- Pixel Tap Preferred network type.
- Motorola Tap Preferred network type.
Choose LTE or 4G
Pick the option that says LTE or 4G, without 5G in the name. On Samsung it may read LTE/3G/2G (auto connect). Your phone now uses 4G LTE. Calls, texts, and mobile data keep working.
Check that it worked
Look at the top of the screen. After a few seconds, the 5G icon next to your signal bars should change to LTE or 4G. If the setting will not change, restart the phone and try again.
Turn 5G back on later
Go back to the same setting and choose the option with 5G in the name. On Pixel it is called 5G (recommended). Your phone uses 5G again wherever your carrier offers it, and drops back to 4G on its own where it does not.
Still not working?
- If you cannot find the network type setting at all, your carrier may have hidden it. Some carriers do this, and there is no way to show it in the normal settings. Call your carrier and ask whether they can turn off 5G on your line or your plan.
- If the option is there but grayed out, restart the phone and try again. On Samsung, if it still will not change, Samsung suggests contacting your carrier.
- If you only see a 5G option on Pixel, that choice still lets the phone use 4G where 5G is weak. Google says your phone falls back to 4G when 5G is not available.
- If you turned off 5G to fix slow or dropping data and it did not help, see our guide on mobile data not working.
- We do not recommend hidden phone codes or third-party apps that claim to force LTE. They can change settings that are hard to put back.
Why this happens
Most newer Android phones use 5G when your carrier has it nearby. Where the 5G signal is weak, the phone can keep switching between 5G and 4G. Samsung suggests going back to 4G when reception is poor.
Your carrier decides which network types your phone can choose from. That is why the list looks different from one phone to the next, and why some phones do not show the setting at all.
Normal vs. not
Usually normal
The 5G icon comes and goes as you move around, or the phone shows 5G but feels no faster than 4G. Google notes the 5G icon means 5G is available, not that you are using it at that moment.
Worth a closer look
You set the phone to 4G LTE and now have no signal or data at all. Change the setting back to 5G and contact your carrier.
What people are saying
Put my Visible SIM card and the phone was stuck on 5G, my carrier Visible had hidden the Preferred Network type setting.
Redditor u/backinmyday1980 said on r/motorola. Read the thread
Common questions
- Will turning off 5G save battery?
- It may help a little. Google notes that turning on Battery Saver on a Pixel also turns off 5G. For other ways to make a charge last, see our battery drain guide.
- Will I still be able to make calls and texts?
- Yes. Calls, texts, and mobile data keep working on 4G LTE. Only 5G is turned off.
- Will turning off 5G affect Wi-Fi calling?
- No. Wi-Fi calling uses your Wi-Fi connection, not 5G. See how to turn on Wi-Fi calling if you want to use it at home.
Related questions
Sources we checked
- Use 5G on your Pixel phone (Pixel Phone Help (Google))
- Fix mobile connectivity issues (Pixel Phone Help (Google))
- Manage connection settings on your Galaxy phone or tablet (Samsung Support)
- How to change the network mode on my Samsung Galaxy phone (Samsung Support (Australia))
- How to change the network mode on my Motorola smartphone (Bell Support (carrier))
Menu names can differ by phone brand and Android version. See our editorial policy for how we check steps.